Knowledge Transfer and Problem Solving

Transfer of knowledge also known as transfer of learning is a notion that refers to the ease of performance of new tasks owing to previous exposure to a similar situation or a situation that shares similar characteristics to the current one. In this regard it is generally expected that mastery of one cognitive skill will influence another related one.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Knowledge Transfer and Problem Solving specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By the end of the 19th century various views on transfer had emerged. Key among these views was the Doctrine of Formal Discipline (Ormrod, 2004). This doctrine explained improvement in mental power using the correlation that exists between physical activity and muscle power. It was held that cognitive function could be improved by mental exercise. Study of subjects regarded as difficult was therefore, expected to improve learning of simpler subjects. Other influen tial views on this area are the associations approach and the meaning theory. The associations approach asserted that problem solving is achieved through a quick mental trial and error. In this context thinking is a process in which all possible solutions to a problem are mentally tried until one that is appropriate is identified. The identical elements theory gives further insight to this approach (Schunk, 2012). The theory advances that transfer can only occur when the new task and learned task share identical elements. The identical elements are thought to be stimulus-response pairs. Transfer of a skill increases with increase in the number of identical elements. It can therefore, be said that transfer is functionally related to similarity and difference between stimuli and responses in an original and a transfer task. Gestalt approach and meaning theory presume that thinking is a process of relating a problem situation to another resulting in understanding (Ormrod, 2004). In suc h a scenario a transfer is achieved by reorganizing ideas to gain an insight into the problem to be solved. Two forms of transfer emerge from these approaches; the near transfer and the far transfer. Near transfer denotes a transfer process in which there is overlap between situations. That is, the original and the transfer situations are analogous. For example, learning how to drive a saloon car and transferring that to acquiring skills necessary to drive a truck.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In far transfer there is little overlap between situations. For example, learning problem solving in school and later using knowledge gained to solve problems outside the classroom setting. Mechanisms of transfer Two mechanisms of transfer exist. They are the procedural overlap and scheme-based transfer. Procedural overlap transfer is of the view that production sequences gained during train ing are applicable in performing a new task. A greater overlap in the required productions results in greater the transfer. This kind of transfer is applicable to skills that have recurrent sequences. Scheme-based transfer is applicable to situations that require an understanding of the problem before a solution is developed. During learning and practice, cognitive schemata are acquired. These acquired schemes provide knowledge necessary for understanding the new problem situation. Difference between experts and novices in problem solving Though experts and novices may both achieve a desirable result to a problem, the way they go about it is different. Novices and experts perceive and understand stimuli differently. When solving problems experts can recognize patterns and connections that are not immediately evident to novices. The experts can therefore, arrive at a solution faster than novices. Experts are also able to filter information faster. Experts often notice the relevant in formation and separate it from irrelevant information. It is this attribute that helps experts act quickly in situations that require quick and useful responses to avert a danger. Experts are flexible and highly adaptable to different situations. Experts are able to vary their methods of learning and practice with ease as compared to novices who may have difficulty doing this. This enables the expert to come up with new solutions to a problem. Flexibility is important in problem solving especially when a new challenge is encountered. Teaching adults problem solving skills The approaches used to teach adults problem solving skills are not very different from those used when teaching children. Adults can be taught problem solving skills using the problem solving process. This process has three major steps namely; representing the problem, solution search and implementation of the solution.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Knowledge Transfer and Problem Solving sp ecifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, for adults contextual learning is important (Ormrod, 2004). Adults should be taught with special emphasis laid on context. Examples used should be those that one is likely to encounter in real life situations. The examples should be real and properly put in the right context. References Ormrod, J. E. (2004). Human learning (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson. Schunk, D.H. (2012). Learning theories: an educational perspective (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn Bacon (Pearson Education). This essay on Knowledge Transfer and Problem Solving was written and submitted by user Giselle H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free sample - Recent research in Mycology. translation missing

Recent research in Mycology. Recent research in MycologyMycology is a branch in Botany that entails the study life and behaviour of fungi.   Mycology also includes the study of fungi-related diseases.   Mycology also puts into account the genetic and biochemical properties of fungi, taxonomy and their economic importance to human beings for instance in medicine (for instance penicillin) and food. A lot of researches related to mycology especially in medical mycology have led to discovery of new medicines that are currently treating diseases that initially had proved resistant to drugs. This paper tries to look into one of the recent researches that involved application of fungi in controlling mosquitoes resistant to insecticides. Based on the fact that malaria is a one of the causes of deaths in Africa and other regions that lie on the tropical regions, various researches have been carried out with the aim of coming up with more effective drugs to fight the malaria parasite. Recent research has shown that the chemical methods can be combined with biological methods to fight malaria parasites.   This is because the mosquitoes responsible for causing malaria are increasingly becoming resistant to chemical intervention. Last year researchers from Wageningen University and research centre after carrying out several researches showed that fungal spores can be effective in killing mosquitoes and can make mosquitoes to be more vulnerable to pesticides.   This research was carried out by Marit Farenhorst with other colleagues from the Entomology research centre in Cotonou, Benin and it involved the use of a wide arrange of fungi-insecticide combinations to test effect of timing and sequence of exposure (Wageninge n University and Research Centre 2010).   The research intended to establish the efficacy of combining fungi spores with insecticides in killing malaria causing mosquitoes in West Africa. From this research titled â€Å"Synergy in Efficacy of Fungal Entomopathogens and Permethrin against West African Insecticide-Resistant Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes†, it was found out that the fungi spores from Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were very effective in killing both wild mosquitoes and laboratory bred ones.   On the efficacy of combining these spores with insecticides, it was found out from this research that the fungal infection on mosquitoes made them more vulnerable to permethrin and also exposure of mosquitoes to permethrin made them more vulnerable to infection by the spores.   In other words the two components produced a reinforced effect that proved effective to mosquitoes that had developed resistance to commonly used insecticides such as Permethrin an d DDT. The effect of combining fungal spores with permethrin proved to be more effective against insecticide resistant far much than expected, something that proved that both the fungi spores and permethrin reinforced each other’s efficacy (Wageningen University and Research Centre 2010).   From this research it was argued that the combination of spores with insecticides has the potential of creating a long term effect as it will be very difficult for mosquitoes to build resistant against agents that are totally distinct. From this research, it was suggested that fungi spores alone can be used a substitute of insecticides in beefing up the fight against malaria in Africa (Wageningen University and Research Centre 2010). There are still many research prospects in this field for instance, more research need to be done on evaluation of methods where mosquitoes will be exposed to both fungi and insecticides in duration of one night. This can be done by for instance employing mosquito nets that are impregnated with spore and also use of fungal sprays in the house. References Wageningen University and Research Centre. "Synergy in Efficacy of Fungal Entomopathogens and Permethrin against West African Insecticide-Resistant Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes

ACT Score Range Whats Good

ACT Score Range What's Good SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re planning on taking the ACT, you’re probably wondering what you can expect in terms of scores. In this article, I’ll take you through the basics of how the test is scored, show you where your scores fall in relation to other students, and give you a few tips on how to plan your studying to meet your goals. ACT Score Range: The Basics On the ACT, your composite score can be anywhere from a 1 to a 36.Unlike the SAT, the composite score is not the sum of the scores of the other tests - it’s the average. The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science.Each one is also scored on a scale of 1 to 36, and the average of these four scores will make up your composite score. The ACT doesn’t have an incorrect answer penalty, so your raw score on each section is just the number of questions you get right. Any questions you answer incorrectly or omit will not count towards your score.English has 75 questions, Math has 60, Reading has 40, and Science also has 40. Check out this sample conversion chart to see how raw scores are converted to the final scores on a scale of 1-36: (note that different tests have different raw score to scaled score conversion charts, but this is generally the right idea). The ACT also has an optional essay, but the Writing section will not impact your composite score or any of your test subscores. You will get a score from 2 to 12 on your essay in four different assessment categories. Your total Writing score will be out of 36 just like the other sections.The ACT gives you an English Language Arts (ELA) score as well, which is the average of your English, Reading, and Writing subscores, but again, this doesn’t factor into your final composite score. Average ACT Scores The national average composite ACT score for the class of 2014 was a 20.Average scores for subsections were: English: 19-20Math: 19-20Reading: 20-21Science: 20-21 If you’re scoring in this range, you’re already scoring higher than 50% of students who take the ACT and will have a good shot at getting into many colleges.Keep in mind, however, that national averages might not be the most relevant to your individual situation. You should look up the average scores for schools you’re interested in to figure out what target scoreto shoot for.If you’re hoping to attend a very selective school, you might need to set your sights on a score in the 34-36 range.At MIT, for example, the 75th percentile composite ACT score for admitted students in 2014 was a 35.When you look at the averages for your school of choice, you should try and aim for the 75th percentile score (higher than 75% of admitted students)because it will give you the best chance of admission. Also keep in mind that someschools want you to submit the ACT Writing score, and some don’t care about it.This is an important factor to take into account both when studying and when deciding whether to sign up for the ACT with or without Writing. MIT: A lush sanctuary where geeks can run free Studying for Your Score Goals You might know where you fall in terms of your ACT score range if you’ve already taken the test.If not, try out a practice test (with appropriate time constraints!), and see how you do.If you find that you still need to improve your scores quite a bit, don’t worry! If you come up with a solid study plan, you should be able to get them up where you want them to be by the time the test rolls around. I’ll give some brief guidelines below about how long you should study for different point improvements.For more info check out our complete study plan for the ACT and a guide I wrote on how long you should study. I’m Looking to Improve by 1-2 Points This is a very doable goal, even if you start studying only a couple months in advance of the test.Improving 1-2 points should take around 20 total hours of studying.This means that if you study for about two hours every week for two months, you should be able to meet your score goals.If you want, you can even space out your studying for a few more months so you only have to devote an hour a week to ACT prep. I’m Looking to Improve by 4 Points This is a pretty significant improvement, so you’re going to have to put in a bit more time.A four point improvement usually means around 40-50 hours of studying.You could choose to start studying two months in advance and plan out five hours a week if you prefer longer, more intense study sessions.If you’d rather spread it out more, try studying for two hours a week for five or six months instead. I’m Looking to Improve by 6 or More Points This level of improvement is going to require a lot of hard work.For a score increase of six or more points, you’ll most likely need 150+ hours of study time.This means starting early and committing to study sessions every week.If you start studying six months before the test, schedule out five hours a week to devote to ACT prep. You should also remember that your studying needs to be high quality in order for you to see results!This means figuring out what types of questions cause you problems and then practicing similar questions over and over.You'll have to take the time to really understand your mistakes before you start to see positive changes in your scores. Summary Here are some of the main points you should remember about ACT scoring: The ACT gives you a composite score on a scale of 1 to 36 There are four subtests in English, Math, Reading, and Science, and each is also scored from 1 to 36 These four tests are averaged to make up your composite score The average ACT composite score is around a 20 nationally To figure out the score range you should be aiming for, look up the 75th percentile scores of admitted students for schools where you plan to apply. This will give you a better sense of how much time you should devote to studying.Even if the gap between your current scores and your goal is pretty large, with enough planning and focused studying, you should be able to beat the test! What's Next? ACT Score Choice and Superscoring are two policies that might impact which of your scores colleges see. Read more about what they are and what they mean for you here and here. Still not sure whether you should take the ACT or the SAT? Learn more about which one is best for you. For more information on ACT scores, read this article on how to get and interpret your results. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Economics of Social Issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economics of Social Issues - Assignment Example The total budget deficit does not reflect the effect of all expenses and revenues of the federal government. Some items of expense and revenue are marked as off-budget while others are on-budget. The total budget deficit is the combined effect of the off-budget and on-budget categories. The items that are not included in the on-budget category include the social security payments and unemployment benefits. For most of the past decades the on-budget categories have resulted in a deficit which has been offset by a surplus in the off-budget categories to result in a lower total budget deficit, as in 2012. Cyclical deficits are less of a concern than structural deficits because they are of a temporary nature while structural deficits can be more persistent and even lead to inflation. Cyclical deficits arise as the economy goes through different phases of the business cycle (Arnold, 2010, p. 236). They occur especially during the recession phase when the government has to increase spending on social support. Structural deficits are more permanent and reflect fiscal mismanagement despite the business cycle. If the government cannot derive a reasonable return on them, it may have to print more currency or take on additional debt to pay off the deficit. Budget deficits tend to result in a crowding out of private firm and as a result private sector investment is reduced (Arnold, 2010, p. 241). The government borrows from the private sector to fund its deficit spending and to pay off creditors. As a result, the private sector is left with fewer funds to invest. As this also reduces the employability of private firms, the number of jobs in the economy also reduces. The graph shows the effect of budget deficit on the loanable funds market. The government issues bonds to cover its deficit spending which increases the demand for credit and the demand

Compensation (Human Resources) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Compensation (Human Resources) - Essay Example Incentive plans normally endow with compensation foundation on a formula, on accomplishment of concert objectives, on an unrestricted decision, or an amalgamation of these. An organization internally could be measured adjacent to the individual performance. These plans consist of stock-based strategy, which put forward stock options based on stock performance or finance policy, which suggest cash booty joined to congregate objectives. These plans recompense performance with the time period of 2 to 5 years. The key similarity among the Apple Inc and the Microsoft is in the efficient potential by both the company sales. Good sales incentives are provided to the employees in both the organization and the bonus provided by both the companies are depended on the profitability of the company. The company insists in the working hours for making it a success in the market. The differences in the company are in terms of the payment structure. The basic payment provided by Microsoft are high compared to that of apple inc† Microsoft is reportedly trying to hire away Apples retail employees by bribing them with... wait for it, better wages. People that have spoken to The Loop on condition of anonymity confirm that Microsoft has contacted a number of Apples retail store managers to work in their stores. In addition to "significant raises," the managers have also been offered moving expenses in some cases.† (Microsoft reportedly poaching apple retail staff, 2009). The dissimilarity in the strategies of the companies occurs due to certain reasons. The main idea in the planning of the strategy is based on the efficiency in the company’s operations, productivity and profitability. Various reasons are there in expecting the positive relationship in the organization. The level of the executive employees also plays a vital role in the organization size and the positioning of the strategy. The different contingency approaches

Yahoo and Amazon Essay Example for Free

Yahoo and Amazon Essay 1. Describe, in brief, the histories of both of Amazon.com and Yahoo.com, and determine the core business of each. Yahoo and Amazon have been seeking to have a competitive advantage for years. Since they were incorporated, the companies have experienced a mix of challenges and success as they strive to gain market share. To start with, Yahoo was established in 1995. Yahoo is one of the global technology companies that compete for the growing number online users in the recent world. The company delivers digital content and experiences on various platforms including mobile devices. Furthermore, the company provides properties and online services. Marketing services is a major business for the company. Generally, the company earns revenues from text-based links to advertisers, search advertising, display advertising, and other essential sources. The company has five core segments that include Search and Market Places, Communications and Communities, Developers and Platform Offerings, Advertise and Publisher offerings and Services, and Media. Lastly, the company has operations in approximately 60 countries. Nonetheless, Amazon was incorporated in 1995. It offers online retailing services to customers across the world. Amazon focuses on convenience, selection, and price. In addition to the direct retailing services, the company allows other small and medium sized businesses to sell their products through the company’s websites. The customers and business are able to complete their orders and transactions in Amazon’s websites. Other individuals such as authors, musicians, and filmmakers are also able to sell their products using the same platform. Millions of products are offered through the website. The website may be accessed through PCs, and even mobile applications. The core segments of the company include the International segment, and the North American segment. Generally, the company has witnessed substantial growth since its inception. The success of the company may be attributed to the strategic actions  implemented by Jeffrey Bezos, the founder of the company (Amit, 2012). The next section will illustrate the strategic difference between the companies. 2. Determine the key strategic differences that have impacted the relative success of both Amazon.com and Yahoo.com. Provide two (2) specific examples of such strategic differences to support the response. The strategic actions undertaken by the company would determine the success of the company (Coulson-Thomas, 2013). Yahoo and Amazon have implemented different strategic actions since their establishment. On the fore, Yahoo core business does not involve direct retailing. Yahoo provides a platform for business people who engage in e-commerce. From the sales earned in the Yahoo stores, the company is able to earn commission. Particularly, the company’s core business involves advertising and marketing services. This contributes to a huge chunk of the company’s revenues. As far as human resources are concerned, Yahoo employees do not have a high level of autonomy as compared to the situation in Amazon. Yahoo coordinates with entertainment content providers and media in improving their website. They do not invest in the employees in enhancing creativity and innovation as compared to Amazon. On the other hand, Amazon has a different approach as far as online retailing is concerned. Initially, the company was involves in selling books in its websites. No other business used the website to sell or market its services. Amazon engaged directly with its customers. In the initial years of the company, this was an effective strategy. The company was a monopoly in the online book selling. This created a barrier for potential entrant. However, with the improvement in technology the company had to diversify its operations in order to sustain its position in the market. Other competitors were reaping big from diversified products; hence, the need for the company to similarly expand its operations. Therefore, the company had to modify its operations to fits to the growing market for online retailing. 3. Compare and contrast the approach to strategic planning that each company has pursued in order to achieve a competitive advantage. Focus specifically on both intended and emergent strategies. Strategic planning is an important step for any company that seeks to gain a competitive advantage in the market. There is need for the company’s management to set out plans and strategic actions in achieving the organization’s goals and objectives (Hill, 2013). An effective designed  strategic planning process would steer the company to success. Basically, there are intended and emergent strategies. The intended strategies are those that the companies hope to implement. The effective implementation of the intended strategies would lead to the realized strategies. On the other hand, emergent strategies are those that are not planned for by the management. They are unexpected and are always as a result of competitors actions. In the case of Amazon and Yahoo, both intended and emergent strategies were implemented in achieving competitive advantage. One of the emergent strategies that Amazon implemented is the diversification strategy. The Company allows other businesses to sell their products in the company’s website. This provides a variety of products and services for customers. The diversification strategy was in response to the increasing competition from businesses that equally have diversified portfolio. Nonetheless, the level of product diversification in Yahoo is not commensurate to that of Amazon. The company offers space for other businesses to sell their products through its website. However, the company itself does not engage in direct selling of the products. The company has various features in its website ranging from games, emailing, to financial news updates. The main aim of the company in providing a variety of features in its website is increasing traffic. More traffic in the company’s website implies that there will be more clients demanding the advertising services of the company. In increasing its popularity in the market, the company invested in aggressive advertising. Next, both companies have invested in expansion strategy. With increase in globalization, there is potential market for online retailing. Amazon has an international segment, which focuses on the global market. Lastly, Yahoo and Amazon have different approaches on employees’ motivation. Am azon employs a participative approach whereas Yahoo is mainly autocratic. Amazon employees are free to make decisions that concern new ideas and the success of the company. This has been critical for the success of the company. 4. Analyze the manner in which each company’s distinctive competencies help to shape the strategies that each company pursues. Provide a rationale to support the response. Distinctive and core competencies are essential in transforming the strategies of the companies (Mellat-Parast, 2013). Effective strategic  implementation depends on the distinctive competencies. On the fore, Amazon has various distinctive competencies that have assisted it in shaping its strategies. The technology experts of the company have been critical in its strategic implementation. Innovation being essential for the company, the technology experts has improving the service provision quality. The websites have been effectively designed to meet the customer’s needs and requirements. Another distinctive competency involves the association program. Allowing other enterprises to conduct business in its website has been significant for the company’s diversification strategy. Therefore, the association program has shaped the company’s diversification strategy. On the other hand, Yahoo has various distinctive competencies that have played a role in its strategic planning. As pointed out earlier, the company’s website host a range of service. This is essential in improving the number of visitors in its website. With respect to this, the companys marketing strategy has been shaped by the distinct website. Furthermore, the company’s expansion and diversification strategies are supported by the numerous services offered in its website. The company has also been effective in forming strategic partnerships, for instance, the collaboration with Microsoft. The partnerships have gone a long way in reducing the company’s operating expenses despite the numerous challenges and competition. 5. Recommend one (1) functional level strategy for each company which prescribes the essential ways in which each may achieve superior efficiency, quality, innovation, and customer responsiveness. Provide a rationale to support the response. The functional level strategies are effective in achieving the business and corporate level strategies. They are implemented at the operational level, and directly involve the employees. I would recommend an effective marketing strategy for Amazon. The company is in a competitive environment with eBay being its largest competitor. Amazon should ensure that its products are offered at a low price as part of its marketing strategy. For instance, the company should offer discounts or free shipping with an aim of attracting more customers. They should be speedy delivery of the products in order to earn superior efficiency. The response to customer complaints and inquiries should also be fast. This would improve the company’s competitiveness. Nonetheless, I would recommend both a human resource and marketing strategy  for Yahoo. The company’s competitiveness has been low in the recent years. The company should invest in recruitment of skilled personnel that would contribute in enhancing its research and development. Furthermore, the management should allow for independent decision making. This would reinforce the innovation strategy since independent decision making promotes creativity. Next, the company should modify its marketing strategy to meet the needs of the current dynamic environment. More emphasis should be on social media marketing. This approach is cheaper and has a wider coverage (Amit, 2012). The company may be close to prospective customers through Facebook, twitter, and YouTube. References Amit, R. . (2012). Creating value through business model innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 53(3), 41-49. Coulson-Thomas, C. (2013). Implementing strategies and policies. , . Strategic Direction, 29(3), 33-35. doi:doi:10.1108/02580541311304643 Hill, C. . (2013). Strategic management: An integrated approach (10th ed.). Independence, KY: Cengage. Mellat-Parast, M. (2013). Supply chain quality management. International Journal of Quality Reliability Management, 30(5), 511-529. doi:10.1108/02656711311315495

Essay --

Just Another Chalk-line Characters: James Enfield – Detective (age 38) Lee Ames – Detective (age 48) Chris Rollins – Detective (age 26) Nolan Eckhart – Detective (age 40) – Deceased Setting: The scene takes place in an alleyway beside a popular bar named Edward’s. There are a few police officers scattered about closing off the area. (Extras during the stage production.) They would leave the stage until the end of the act when the detectives call the coroner to take away the body. James, Lee and Chris are on the site of a murder. The murder in question is of one of their co-workers and friend Nolan Eckhart. They are standing around the body of Nolan; James is kneeling down actually checking on the body. The alley is empty with the exception of the body and a small pile of garbage from the bar. Act One: Scene One ( James is a man nearing forty. His build is average; he has light skin and dark hair. He is sensible and caring enough for his partners. He’s dismayed that Nolan has been killed. They were close friends in the office. Lee has been around for a while nearing his fifties he has been working on the force for twenty years. He is experienced but tired. Nolan’s death is not easy on him either, though he won’t show it. He’s a larger man than James, with a bit of a round gut and his head is affixed with greying and balding hair. Chris is the youngest of the trio; he is the newest member in their office having been transferred from another precinct. He shows promise to be a great detective, in his first few cases in their precinct he has already impressed the chief and was rewarded a raise to his salary. He is more muscular than the other two and his brown hair is cut professionally short.) James: Damn†¦I still can’t ge... ... Lee, he may not be as useful as he used to be out here in the field, but in the office he still has his purpose. I’m so glad the chief and I share a similar thought process in all this. It’s quite thrilling to be able to practice my forensics skills; just in this case it’s in reverse. (Notices James returning and stops speaking, leaning against the wall as if his speech moments before never occurred.) James: (Returns from off-stage) Coroner’s on his way. The officers will watch over the scene. We’re officially done for the night. Now, let’s get warmed up shall we? Chris: Alright then. I feel it’s going to be quite cold later on, better enjoy it while it lasts. (Both men leave the stage, going inside the bar for drinks. James turns to look at Nolan once last time) James: (sighing ) I still can’t believe Nolan is dead. Chris: Let’s go make you forget about it, huh.